Using Film - Challenge

As film photography is often overlooked in the present because of all the new, updated technology, we shall incorporate film photography in to our collaborative exhibition. This will give us both a challenge as we are not used to using film and also allow us to do some experimenting in the darkroom.

I found some images taken with film which I have been inspired by to incorporate similar ideas in to my final images:

 Unknown artist

 Blue Rose Photography

 Blue Rose Photography

 Blue Rose Photography

 Eric E Monson

 Joelle Poulos

 Myles Catherine Photography

 Tom Petkus

Zee Anna

I want my images to have a lot of contrast, not too bright, I would like some parts to be soft with other parts having sharp focus.



I have only ever experimented with film photography a handful of times and I have already proposed that I will be using film for some parts of my project so it is going to be a big challenge to face. I will be using 35mm film as this is the type I can use in my cameras.

I know the basics already like putting the film in the camera and which settings to use for the correct lighting. It is the focusing I am worried about as you never know if it is in focus properly until you have developed the images as you can't see them on the screen. I find it difficult to focus on a digital camera due to my bad eyesight so I will need to experiment with rolls of film before I attempt my final shots with the film camera. I already own 2 different film cameras so I will not need to purchase a camera but I will need to buy film, light sensitive paper and chemicals. I may be scanning in my rolls of film rather than printing them on light sensitive paper.

I will need to practice the process of developing film as I have only done this a few times over the past 5 years so I need to plan my steps. I know the 3 main steps but I will need to investigate the correct ratios for mixing chemicals and the timings:
All chemicals must be 20 degrees so I will need a thermometer at hand.

1) Developer - 1:4 parts water 100ml:400ml if I was using 500ml

2) Stop Bath - 1:64 parts water

3) Fixer - possibly 1:5 but I will check packaging when I purchase my chemicals

https://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/step-by-step-guide-to-developing-black-and-white-t-max-film--photo-2580
http://www.instructables.com/id/Developing-Black-and-White-Film-at-Home/?ALLSTEPS

I will go in to a dark room with not even red lights, a blacked out cupboard would do nicely. In here I I will remove the film from the cannister and place it on a film reel which will be placed in the the developing tank. The developer will be poured in to the and a lid put on. It will be in the tank for the allocated time on the developer container (probably around 6-10 minutes) and it will need agitating every 30 seconds. I will then pour out the developer down the sink.

The stop bath will be poured in to the tank straight away and left in the tank for 30 seconds whilst continuously shaking the tank (with the lid on). This will then be poured down the sink.

The fixer will be added and agitated continuously for 30 seconds.

After this I will remove the lid and place the tank under a running tap for 5 minutes so that the film is thoroughly rinsed. The film will then be removed from the tank and the film reel and hung up to dry. You will be able to see the results by holding up your film to the light to see the images so you will know at this stage if your photos went well or not.